Top 191 Lead cook Jobs in La Jolla, Ca

Cafe Manager
The Mission Bay Beach Club —San Diego, CA
- $71,000 - $81,000 a year
- Weekends as needed
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Outlook
- ServSafe
- Paid training
- Employee discount
Quick Apply
Lead Cook
UC San Diego Health —San Diego, CA
- $25.00 - $35.11 an hour
- 8 hour shift
- Management
- Ability to walk for extended periods
- 5 years
Kitchen Lead
Birdseye Rooftop Restaurant & Bar —La Jolla, CA
- $29 an hour
- Full-time
- ServSafe
- Mid-level
- 3 years
- Opportunities for advancement
Quick Apply
10d
Sous Chef (FT) ("Supervisor/a de Cocina")
EVANS HOTELS LLC —La Jolla, CA
- $74,000 - $78,000 a year
- Weekends as needed
- Computer literacy
- Computer skills
- Senior level
- Free parking
- Dental insurance
Quick Apply
Senior Restaurant Chef
Sheraton San Diego Resort —San Diego, CA
- $80,000 - $85,000 a year
- Weekends as needed
- ServSafe
- 5 years
- Ability to lift 50 pounds
- Health insurance
- Dental insurance
Quick Apply
Shift Leader
El Pueblo Mexican Food —San Diego, CA
- $20 - $22 an hour
- Weekends as needed
- Spanish
- Restaurant management
- Cooking
- Health insurance
- Dental insurance
Executive Chef Specialized in Greek Cooking
Busy Restaurant, part of growing group —Coronado, CA
- $90,000 - $113,000 a year
- Full-time
- Background check
- Culinary experience
- Cooking
- Health insurance
- Dental insurance
Quick Apply
Restaurant Experienced Lead Cook for Salt and Whiskey, Historical Downtown Boutique Hotel (Part-time PM Shift)
Horton Grand Hotel —San Diego, CA
- $22 - $26 an hour
- Part-time
- Mid-level
- Hotel
- Restaurant
Quick Apply
Lead Line Cook
Salted —San Diego, CA
- $21 - $26 an hour
- Weekends as needed
- Cooking
- Mid-level
- Ability to lift 50 pounds
- Health insurance
- Dental insurance
Quick Apply
Vue Sous Chef
Omni Hotels & Resorts —Carlsbad, CA
- $29.75 an hour
- Full-time
- Mid-level
- Resort
- Kitchen
Quick Apply
10d
Executive Chef
STK San Diego —San Diego, CA
- $110,000 - $115,000 a year
- Full-time
- ServSafe
- 8 years
- Mentoring
- Disability insurance
- Health insurance
Quick Apply
Restaurant Crewmember
Raising Cane's —San Diego, CA
- From $20 an hour
- Urgently hiring
- No experience needed
- Ability to climb stairs
- Ability to lift 50 pounds
- Paid training
- Disability insurance
Quick Apply
Lead Cook in Memory Care
Parkview Memory Care at Paradise Village —National City, CA
- Weekends as needed
- Mid-level
- High school diploma or GED
- Budgeting
- Health insurance
- Dental insurance
Quick Apply
3d
Cook - PRN/As Needed
Select Specialty Hospital - San Diego —San Diego, CA
- $24 an hour
- PRN
- Hospital
- High school diploma or GED
- Critical & Intensive Care
- Opportunities for advancement
5d
Chef De Cuisine
Kettner Exchange —San Diego, CA
- $70,304 - $83,000 a year
- Full-time
- ServSafe
- Mid-level
- Ability to lift 50 pounds
Lead Line Cook - Maderas Golf Club
Sunroad Automotive —Poway, CA
- $25 an hour
- Weekends as needed
- Background check
- Pass drug screening
- Mid-level
- AD&D insurance
- Health insurance
Quick Apply
Cook - Part-Time
Select Specialty Hospital - San Diego —San Diego, CA
- $22.00 - $26.85 an hour
- Part-time
- Hospital
- Inpatient
- High school diploma or GED
- Opportunities for advancement
Egg Tuck BREAKFAST & BRUNCH @San Diego - Little Italy (BOH)
Egg Tuck —San Diego, CA
- $18 - $24 an hour
- Part-time
- Spanish
- English
- High school diploma or GED
- Employee discount
- Flexible schedule
Quick Apply
5d
Bar Traza Cook 1
Omni Hotels & Resorts —Carlsbad, CA
- $27.65 an hour
- Full-time
- ServSafe
- 5 years
- English
Quick Apply
Shift Leader
Panda Restaurant Group —La Jolla, CA
- $30 - $33 an hour
- Email
- Restaurant management
- Ability to lift 50 pounds
- Conflict management
- Paid training
- Disability insurance
Quick Apply

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Cafe Manager

The Mission Bay Beach Club
San Diego, CA

Quick Apply

Job Details

Full-time
$71,000 - $81,000 a year

Benefits

Paid training
Employee discount
Safety equipment provided
Opportunities for advancement

Qualifications

Vendor relationship building
ServSafe
Food Safety Manager Certification
Restaurant management
Managing hospitality teams
ServSafe Food Manager Certification
POS systems
Profit and loss analysis
Food service management

Full Job Description

Job Summary

This is a salaried exempt position under California law. The Cafe Manager’s primary

duties are executive and managerial, including building systems for future growth and

franchising.

As Cafe Manager in our vibrant, fast-paced San Diego cafe—buzzing with events and

dynamic energy—you'll lead overall operations and build the systems that will support

future growth and franchising. You will oversee a close-knit team of baristas, bartenders,

bussers, cooks, and leads, enforcing high standards while driving efficiency and

profitability. This hands-on leadership role balances strategic oversight (staffing,

training, inventory, compliance, and scalability) with active floor presence, stepping in to

any role when needed to maintain flow. If you have multi-unit or corporate experience

and thrive on building high-performing teams, this is your opportunity to shape the future

of The Picnic Group.

Key Responsibilities

Team Leadership and Staff Management

Recruit, hire, train, and develop all FOH staff, managing and building a high-

performing team of 20 + across shifts that embodies our culture and standards.

Conduct performance reviews, issue warnings and write-ups, and manage disciplinary

actions up to termination.

Create and manage schedules across roles, ensuring adequate coverage for shifts,

events, and peaks while optimizing labor costs.

Cover breaks for all team members (FOH and BOH) as needed to ensure continuous

operations and smooth service.

Serve as the primary decision-maker during owner-absent periods, resolving disputes

and enforcing policies, SOPs, opening/closing procedures, and California health

guidelines. Proactively communicate challenges and team dynamics to owners.

FOH/BOH Coordination

Foster cross-department collaboration, empowering leads for efficiency. Act as primary

liaison with the Kitchen Manager to ensure smooth food handoff, consistent quality, and

effective communication. Bring up kitchen or cross-department concerns to the Kitchen

Manager and owners timely and participate in solutions.

Operations & Guest Experience

Oversee daily FOH operations, including counter service, beeper system, and order

flow to minimize wait times and deliver exceptional guest experiences.

Monitor and improve guest satisfaction, handling complaints empathetically and

promoting seasonal items, reviews, and events. Set the example for customer-oriented

service, meeting and exceeding expectations while fostering a welcoming environment.

Manage opening/closing procedures, ensuring the cafe is clean, functional, and

ready—including patio setup (umbrellas, heaters). Monitor the outdoor patio and ensure

serving stations are clean and stocked; delegate accordingly.

Step in to perform any role when short-staffed, modeling an "all hands on deck"

approach.

Inventory, Financial, and Vendor Management

Manage inventory for cafe items, paper products, alcohol ordering, receiving, stock

rotation (using FIFO), and waste minimization to control costs.

Track COGs, labor, and performance metrics; provide weekly reports to owners and

proactively develop solutions for inefficiencies. Use systems like ExtraChef and Toast

for recipe management, COGs tracking, and profit analysis.

Maintain vendor relationships, negotiate contracts, and ensure timely, accurate

deliveries.

Safety, Sanitation, and Compliance

Enforce food safety protocols, temperature monitoring, allergen handling, and CA

health codes; hold ServSafe Manager certification.

Implement deep-cleaning schedules and oversee dishwashing flow, delegating tasks

while stepping in as needed.

Oversee equipment maintenance and repairs to prevent downtime; report incidents

per policy.

Events & Growth Support

Work with the Events team on planning, staffing, and execution, including scalable

menus and inventory adjustments.

Assist in creating recipes for seasonal drinks, training staff, and oversee the updated

menu rollout process.

Participate in creative brainstorming for seasonal marketing initiatives, customer

retention strategies, growth, and sales increase.

Reporting and Communication

Provide updates to owners weekly or more on KPIs (labor cost, COGs, performance

issues/praises, hiring needs, menu/guest feedback). Communicate proactively—better

to overcommunicate than under.

Use Sling/email for company initiatives, policies, and owner info, ensuring team

understanding.

Serve as liaison between teams; handle customer complaints.
Maintain professional conversation at all times: do not discuss personal matters, cafe

issues, or gossip while customers are in line or within earshot. Foster a positive

environment and coach team members on complaining the right way—by emailing

management directly versus gossiping at work. You will be held to high standards on

culture fit and serve as an example in positive attitude for everyone.

Qualifications and Skills

4+ years of restaurant or cafe management experience, with at least 2–3 years in a

corporate chain or multi-location operation preferred.

Proven track record managing teams across shifts.
Strong knowledge of kitchen operations, inventory, cost control, and food safety

(ServSafe Manager and RBS certification required).

Demonstrated ability to build systems, enforce standards, and prepare operations for

scaling and franchising.

Excellent communication, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
Flexible mindset for hands-on leadership in a compact, event-driven environment.
Availability for variable shifts, including mornings, evenings, weekends, holidays, and

events.

Reliable transportation and punctuality.
Basic proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook, with comfort in learning new

technologies.

Physical Requirements

Standing for entire shifts (up to 8 hours) with frequent bending, lifting (up to 50

pounds), and reaching.

Tolerance for hot/cold environments and exposure to cleaning chemicals (with

provided PPE).

Manual dexterity for handling tools and equipment safely.

Benefits

Competitive salary plus performance bonuses.
Employee meal discounts.
Opportunities for advancement within The Picnic Group.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement

The Picnic Group is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are

committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We do not

discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or any

other protected status. Reasonable accommodations will be provided for qualified

individuals with disabilities.

How to Apply

Submit your resume and a brief note on why you’re excited to lead our team to

[email protected]. We review applications on a rolling basis and look forward to

hearing from you!

Pay: $71,000.00 - $81,000.00 per year

Benefits:

Employee discount
Paid training

Experience:

Restaurant management: 4 years (Preferred)

Work Location: In person

Quick Apply

Refine Your Search

lead cook jobs in la jolla, ca

Cafe Manager

Lead Cook

Kitchen Lead

Sous Chef (FT) ("Supervisor/a de Cocina")

Senior Restaurant Chef

Shift Leader

Executive Chef Specialized in Greek Cooking

Restaurant Experienced Lead Cook for Salt and Whiskey, Historical Downtown Boutique Hotel (Part-time PM Shift)

Lead Line Cook

Vue Sous Chef

Executive Chef

Restaurant Crewmember

Lead Cook in Memory Care

Cook - PRN/As Needed

Chef De Cuisine

Lead Line Cook - Maderas Golf Club

Cook - Part-Time

Egg Tuck BREAKFAST & BRUNCH @San Diego - Little Italy (BOH)

Bar Traza Cook 1

Shift Leader

I want to receive the latest job alert for lead cook in la jolla, ca

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